A new review by the Independent Children’s Monitor has found New Zealand’s child protection system has made little meaningful progress since the 2021 murder of Malachi Subecz, with systemic gaps identified in 2022 still largely unresolved despite government acceptance of recommendations.
A 2025 report by the late Dame Karen Poutasi said many reports of concern about children still do not lead to action from Oranga Tamariki, leaving vulnerable tamariki effectively unseen, while information sharing between agencies remains weak and risk assessments too narrow.
A review of Poutasi’s report released this week said that since Malachi’s death, 24 more children have been killed by caregivers, with several known to authorities beforehand, highlighting ongoing failures across police, welfare, and support systems.
Oversight bodies, including the Children’s Commissioner and Ombudsman, are urging faster, coordinated action across agencies, warning that without real change at community level, children remain no safer than they were when Malachi died.
This article was originally published by the Daily Telegraph New Zealand.
